Chess Puzzle #dppc3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1868 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king e1; queen a7; rooks d1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knight c7; pawns a2/e2/f3/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen b2; rooks c8/h8; bishop f8; knights d7/f6; pawns b7/c4/c5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook c8→c7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen a7→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c7→c8).
  3. Best move: Bc7+ — bishop f4→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Qb8+.

Position data

FEN: 2rk1b1r/QpNn1ppp/4pn2/2p5/2p2B2/5PP1/Pq2P2P/3RKB1R b K - 0 14

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.